Charleston High School softball used a pair of home runs to secure an Apollo Conference doubleheader split against Mattoon Tuesday at Neco Field, losing game one 6-2 and winning game two 5-2.

The Trojans (6-3, 1-1) snapped their six-game winning streak dating back to 2022 against the Greenwave (3-5, 1-1) with the loss in game one.

“I think our energy was just down from the get-go,” head coach Allyson O’Dell said. “I think it was just one of those games.”

Charleston was unable to contain the bat of Mattoon freshman Alana Perez, who drove in three runs on three doubles. She had runners on base in every at-bat that she recorded a hit in.

The Trojans had the lead after the first inning, but after Perez’s first RBI tied the game in the fourth inning, the Greenwave offense scored three unanswered runs before Charleston was able to scratch a run across in the bottom of the sixth.

Once game two began, the Trojan dugout was noticeably louder than in game one.

“That first game was the quietest I have heard them in about two weeks, and I told them that, and I think they noticed that too,” O’Dell said.

Despite being outhit by the Greenwave in both games, the Trojans used a combination of manufacturing runs and timely powerful swings to outscore Mattoon.

Freshman Lainie Keefer drove home the game’s first run on a solo home run hit down the left field line in the second inning and extended the lead in the fifth inning with a two out RBI triple.

“She’s showing up huge as a freshman for us both defensively and at the plate,” O’Dell said. Her energy is just fantastic. She’s definitely one that gets the team going.

Keefer’s run-scoring triple gave the Trojans an insurance run, making the score 4-2. Senior Riley Schrader hit a solo home run to make it a 5-2 game in the bottom of the sixth.

“I think they were just mad at the first game,” O’Dell said. “So, they were ready to fight back that second game.”

In the third inning, junior Avery Beals legged out an infield single and then stole both second and third base before scoring on the first of back-to-back errors by the Greenwave.

Sophomore Railyn Cox was the starting pitcher for the Trojans in game one. She pitched five innings, allowing six hits and four earned runs and was the losing pitcher for the first time this season.

“I personally was studying her motion a lot,” Mattoon head coach Melissa Cole said. “[I] made sure my girls were ready for the type of pitching she had.”

Cox had another opportunity to face Mattoon in game two, entering the game in relief of fellow sophomore Reece Good, who started the second game and relinquished the circle to Cox after four innings.

Cox pitched the final three innings of the game, allowing two hits and one earned run. She earned a save for getting the final nine outs.

“I knew [game one] wasn’t my best and I came back the second game and I just had to do it,” Cox said.

Senior Blair Ritchey left game two early after being hit with a throw, but O’Dell says she’s alright and will be able to play in the next game at Effingham St. Anthony on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.

Gabe Newman can be reached at 581-2812 or at ghnewman@eiu.edu.